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Growing of Gold 




Published by 

A. A. BERRY SEED CO. 

CLARINDA, IOWA 




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The Growing of Gold 



Facts About Growing Alfalfa, the Practical 
Gold Mine for the Farmer of Today 



By J. F. SINN 

of the 

A. A. BERRY SEED CO. 



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Copyrighted 1916 
A. A. BERRY SEED CO. 



Price 25 Cents 



Printed and Published by 

A. A. BERRY SEED COMPANY 

CLARINDA, IOWA 






CONTENTS 

Chapter Page 
INTRODUCTION 5 

1 ALFALFA IN AMERICA 7 

2 SELECTION OF LAND 12 

3 INOCULATION AND FERTILIZA- 

TION 15 

4 SEEDING OF ALFALFA 20 

5 CARING FOR ALFALFA 24 

6 HARVESTING OF ALFALFA 28 

7 SCIENTIFIC FEED VALUE 32 

8 ALFALFA THE MONEY CROP 37 

9 THE BEST ALFALFA SEED 43 

10. WHAT OTHERS SAY 46 

ALFALFA FACTS WORTH REMEM- 
BERING 51 

WEIGHTS AND M#ASURE6ttt . . . . 53 



* * 

• • • 





CU1284J4 



APR -6 1916 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 




INTRODUCTION. 

HE purpose of writing this little booklet 
is to set forth the facts on growing 
Alfalfa ; to give our friends a condensed 
and abbreviated reference book that will be use- 
ful and helpful to every one who is interested in 
the upbuilding of the farm, and getting greater 
profits from it. 

In writing this book, the writer has frequently 
referred to Bulletin No. 137 of Iowa Agricultural 
Station, and the best works that he could find on 
Alfalfa. It has been the aim to give the most 
authentic information on this subject that could 
be found and we are sure our customers and 
friends will find it of great assistance to them in 
getting the most out of the crop. 

There is an unlimited amount of wealth in the 
growing of Alfalfa, so the writer has entitled this 
booklet "The Growing of Gold." This name is 
most fitting, as it is easy to grow gold by using 
plenty of Alfalfa Seed. You should get our 
"Yellow as Gold Seed," and sow it freely on your 
farm on a well prepared seed bed, and then you 
will better appreciate this book, and more fully 
understand "The Growing of Gold." 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

It is the earnest desire of the writer to impress 
upon every reader of this book the great impor- 
tance of growing Alfalfa and I hope that every 
farmer that has a farm will start at once "The 
Growing of Gold," or in other words "The Grow- 
ing of Alfalfa." It is bound to bring joy and 
wealth to him the same as it has to the many 
thousands of other farmers who are no more 
favored than you. 

There may be instances that you know of 
where Alfalfa has been a failure, but this does 
not condemn the plant in the least, and you should 
strive all the harder to grow Alfalfa successfully. 
It can be grown on your farm and the writer will 
feel that his efforts have accomplished the pur- 
pose intended if this book is the means of influ- 
encing you to test it out yourself and experience 
the great reward offered to all who make a suc- 
cess of growing Alfalfa. 





THE GROWING OF GOLD 



CHAPTER I. 

ALFALFA IN AMERICA. 

LFALFA is a new plant for America, 
generally speaking, but the plant itself is 
no wise new, as it has been grown for 
more than 2,000 years. Alfalfa was first grown 
in Asia and from there it spread westward 
throughout the entire of Europe, where it has 
been growing with the greatest of success for 
many centuries. It was brought to South Amer- 
ica by the Spaniards and it gradually worked 
northward, having been grown for more than 
200 years in Mexico before introduced into the 
United States. We are indebted to them for 
introducing it in the United States, as it was first 
grown in California and then spread to other 
Western States and has gradually worked east- 
ward until it has penetrated every State to the 
Atlantic. 

Alfalfa was first grown in California in the 
early 50's and was not grown in the great Alfalfa 
States of Kansas and Nebraska until late in the 
70's. You can now hardly find a progressive 
farmer in these States who is not growing more 
or less Alfalfa. West of the Missouri River 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

Alfalfa is recognized as the best paying crop that 
can be grown and has turned much of the dry, 
barren waste into a world of wealth. What it 
has done for the Western farmer it will do for 
the Eastern farmer. It is fast becoming the best 
paying crop that can be grown in the East, espe- 
cially by the dairy farmer. Alfalfa will add 
untold wealth to the corn-belt farmer, who has 
been constantly cropping the land with corn, tak- 
ing away the nitrogen and humus which alfalfa 
replaces. 

It is hard to estimate the worth of Alfalfa, but 
it is surely King of the forage plants and every 
farmer should be growing it. Henry Wallace 
says that every farmer in Iowa who has a quarter 
section should at least have 10 acres of Alfalfa. 
It is high time that each and every farmer should 
recognize the value of this wonderful crop. 

Alfalfa has made great advancement in the 
United States in the past fifty years, but it has 
only been in the past few years that its full value 
has been realized. Therefore Alfalfa growing is 
in its infancy. From now on Alfalfa growing 
should make very rapid progress, and the farmer 
who is slow about starting to grow this plant is 
losing out on the best money making crop that he 
could plant. 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 



It is strange that a plant that has such sterling 
worth as Alfalfa is not grown more generally by 
all farmers. Some writers have led the farmer 
to believe that Alfalfa is hard to grow, and many 
think they could not make a success of it. This 
is where Alfalfa unjustly got a great setback, for 
it is not difficult to grow. In fact it can be grown 
on nearly every farm in nearly every State in the 
Union. In Iowa the Experimental Station shows 
that Alfalfa is a much surer crop than clover. 
Prof. Hughes of the Iowa State College reports 
that out of over 1,000 reports from farmers in 
Iowa on growing Alfalfa, there was less than 13 
per cent failures, while on growing clover the per 
cent was much greater. 

Alfalfa is a crop of wide adaptability and the 
growing of it need not be confined to any 
the Experimental Station shows that Alfalfa is 
being grown successfully all over Asia and 
Europe and in a latitude as far north as 68 
degrees north latitude recommends it as a very 
hardy plant. Alfalfa is now being grown suc- 
cessfully in every State in the Union and you will 
now find small fields here and there throughout 
the Eastern States as well as the Northern and 
Southern. Alfalfa is no longer a plant of the 
Western States. We have customers all over the 
United States reporting the great success they 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

have had with our seed. So the writer does not 
hesitate about urging each and every farmer to 
start growing it. It does not take long to test it 
out, and if you will properly prepare the ground 
and use good hardy seed there is no cause for 
failure. 

When you stop to consider the worth of an 
acre of Alfalfa, you then can begin to realize the 
importance of studying this plant and the reason 
you should grow it. An acre of Alfalfa is capa- 
ble of producing all the way from $25.00 to 
$100.00, depending upon the season and condi- 
tions. In the corn belt it is capable of doubling 
the income of corn. Its value is appreciated in 
the corn belt, for Alfalfa and corn make an ideal 
balanced ration, and the stock raisers cannot well 
afford to be without it. 

The high feed value of Alfalfa will be taken 
up in another chapter, one which will be of great 
interest to you. Don't overlook the value of 
Alfalfa as a feed, as there is no other forage 
plant equal to it. It far excels clover and all 
other legumes, and not only that, but it is a nitro- 
gen gathering plant and is excellent for rebuild- 
ing the soil. It is truly said that every acre 
seeded to Alfalfa increases the value of the land 
$100.00. 

10 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

Whenever you find a farm that has several 
Alfalfa fields growing, you will usually find a 
nice set of farm buildings, and a farm that is not 
for sale. The owner realizes he has as good a 
paying proposition as he could wish for and is not 
anxious to part with a sure thing. You will find 
that real estate values soon increase when Alfalfa 
is grown. Alfalfa has brought more wealth to 
the Western States than their gold mines, and all 
other mines included. It is called by some writ- 
ers the "Wonder Crop" and it is well entitled to 
this name, as it is wonderful what wealth it will 
bring. It is to be hoped that every farmer who 
has a farm will start growing Alfalfa at once. 

You can grow Alfalfa on your farm and there 
is no reason why you should hesitate about start- 
ing. If you do not start now, it will be safe to 
say you will be growing it ten years from now. 
Why let ten years of the best part of your life 
pass by before starting on this road to wealth ? 



11 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 




CHAPTER II. 

SELECTION OF LAND. 

HE successful growing of Alfalfa depends 
quite largely on getting land adapted to 
the plant. This does not mean that it is 
hard to find land suitable for Alfalfa, as on nearly 
every farm certain portions or fields will grow 
Alfalfa, some parts being much better adapted to 
the plant than others. So it is well to be careful 
in selecting your field and get the piece that will 
bring you the best returns. On some farms every 
acre might be well suited to growing Alfalfa, but 
this is not always the case. 

When selecting your ground for Alfalfa grow- 
ing, see that you decide on a field that is well 
drained, and that it has a porous sub-soil, and 
also try to select fertile soil. Well drained soil 
does not mean some high hill, but on the other 
hand, much better results would be obtained from 
a good piece of bottom land that is not wet and 
water does not stand near the surface ; or a good 
field of rolling land that is sufficiently fertile. 
For best results it might be well to first grow 
Cow Peas or some legume, preparatory to seed- 
ing. Quite a number are now using Sweet Clover 

12 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

as a preparatory crop, before growing Alfalfa. 
Often it is practical to manure the ground with 
a good coat of well rotted manure and by doing 
this you are bound to make a greater success and 
secure larger returns. You cannot miss it by 
applying manure before seeding, as on nearly all 
soil better results are obtained. 

If the land is quite fertile good results can be 
expected by seeding without any special prepara- 
tion. 

It is necessary to bear in mind not to get sour 
or wet land. If you are in doubt about your land 
containing acid, it might be well to test it, which 
is a very simple process. Secure some blue litmus 
paper from the druggist and take a handful of 
moist soil and work into a ball; place a strip of 
blue litmus in the middle and allow it to remain a 
short time ; on removing, if the paper has changed 
to red, the soil is decidedly acid, but if only 
slightly pink the degree of acid is not so marked. 
If you find your soil of an acid nature it requires 
lime. Acid condition of the soil is corrected by 
using lime. Although a soil tonic, it is not a direct 
fertilizer, as many suppose. All legumes are ben- 
efited by proper liming and you can usually in- 
crease results by using lime; the degree of acid- 
ity of the soil serves as an indicator for the 
amount of lime needed. From 1,000 to 3,000 

13 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 



pounds per acre will be sufficient in most cases, 
but some of the Eastern States may require larger 
amounts. Lime may be applied with a manure 
spreader, or from a wagon with shovel. A 
broadcast endgate seeder may be used to advan- 
tage. 

After you have decided on the field you intend 
to use for Alfalfa, it is then necessary to get it 
in proper condition for seeding. The process 
necessary to follow will depend quite largely on 
the crop preceding. In many sections where fall 
seeding is desirable it is well to have Alfalfa fol- 
low a small grain crop, or early potatoes leave 
the ground in good condition for seeding. 

Spring seeding may follow most any crop, but 
it would be well to follow some cultivated crop 
that has freed the ground from weeds. One 
objection to spring seeding in the humid section 
is the weed proposition. It is well to secure a 
field as free from weeds as possible, as better 
results will be obtained. 



14 




THE GROWING OF GOLD 

CHAPTER III. 

INOCULATION AND FERTILIZATION. 

|LL leguminous plants require inoculation 
to insure the best growth. This, how- 
ever, does not mean that it is always nec- 
essary to inoculate before seeding, for in many 
cases the soil is already properly inoculated, so 
that very satisfactory results are obtained. Where 
Alfalfa or Sweet Clover has not been grown, it 
is impossible to tell whether the soil is inoculated 
or not, so on this account you are much surer of 
results by first inoculating the soil or seed before 
seeding. The expense of inoculation is not great 
and the increased results will many times pay for 
it. If there are no bacteria in the soil, a failure 
undoubtedly would be the result, while if the soil 
was only partially inoculated the Alfalfa would 
not do well and be sickly. On nearly all soil bet- 
ter results can be obtained by proper inoculating 
before seeding. It has been proven by many 
experiments that inoculation is required for best 
results, and it is not an expense to inoculate, but 
an investment that will much more than pay for 
itself the first season in the way of increased 
production. Besides, each following year you 
will be getting heavier crops, so it is to your 

15 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

interest to inoculate the soil and not take chances 
on seeding without. 

There are two methods of inoculation, one 
known as the soil-transfer method and the other 
the pure culture. The inoculation by soil-transfer 
method is quite commonly practiced and is very 
satisfactory. This method is very simple and is 
not difficult to follow, although it is laborious and 
has one objection which should not be forgotten. 
That is to get soil which is free from noxious 
weeds, insect or plant enemies, for you might 
introduce some pest on your land which would 
be hard to exterminate. 

In order to inoculate by the soil-transfer 
method, it is necessary to secure soil from a good, 
healthy Sweet Clover field or from the roadside 
where it may be found growing, or from an 
Alfalfa field. It requires about 200 to 300 pounds 
of soil to the acre, which should be scattered over 
the field just before seeding and after the soil 
is scattered it should be immediately covered by 
harrowing, for the sun's rays will kill the bac- 
teria germ if left exposed for any length of time. 
This soil, if fine, can be sown broadcast by hand, 
or with an end-gate seeder, or it may be put on 
the ground with a manure spreader. Another 
way which might be very practical is to fasten a 

1C 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

iong narrow box on the front of the harrow, with 
a slat bottom, leaving openings sufficiently large 
so that the soil may scatter out, thus distributing 
the soil and harrowing it in at the same opera- 
tion. The soil could also be put in the field with 
a drill that has a fertilizer attachment. It is also 
suggested that it would be a good plan to take a 
small portion of the soil and mix with the seed 
at the time of sowing, but this is not necessary if 
the soil has been well distributed before seeding. 

The pure-culture method is much more easily 
done and is giving excellent results, and is rec- 
ommended both by the Department of Agricul- 
ture and the State Agricultural Colleges. It has 
the advantage of preventing the introduction of 
harmful weeds or pests on the farm and is much 
more easily secured. 

There are several different places where the 
culture is manufactured, but the culture fur- 
nished by the A. A. Berry Seed Co. is equal to 
the best and the writer does not hesitate to rec- 
ommend it to all who need to inoculate. This is 
what the manufacturer says about our Nitrogen 
Culture: "The cultures listed are guaranteed 
to be first-class in every respect. They are pre- 
pared by an expert bacteriologist, who follows 
accurately the formula set forth by the Govern- 

17 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

ment; the purchaser is thus assured of receiving 
the best to be had." 

Full directions come with each package, giving 
full instructions as to using it. The Culture is 
mixed with water, according to directions given 
with it, and the seed is moistened with the cul- 
ture, so that each seed is affected, but care should 
be taken so as not to soak the seed. As soon as 
the seed is sufficiently dry it should be planted. 

You should not wait any great length of time 
for the nodule bacteria will soon die. Seed which 
is treated should never be exposed to the rays of 
the sun when drying and should be covered imme- 
diately after seeding. 

We have already mentioned the importance of 
manuring, but wish to emphasize the fact that you 
can get no greater returns from your manure 
than applying it on your Alfalfa field. It is not 
absolutely necessary to use manure, but a much 
heavier crop may be expected and you are also 
assured of being more successful in obtaining a 
stand. So do not feel that you are wasting your 
time when using manure preparatory to seeding. 
The richer the soil, the heavier is the yield. 
Richer soil increases the growth the same as 
plenty of water. It is true that Alfalfa will with- 
stand much drought, but the heavy yields are 

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THE GROWING OF GOLD 

secured when supplied with plenty of moisture, 
either by nature or artificially. 



10 




THE GROWING OF GOLD 

CHAPTER IV. 

SEEDING OF ALFALFA. 

HE time of seeding Alfalfa must vary in 
different sections of the country, owing 
to the weather conditions and nature of 
climate. Spring seeding has been proven very 
successful throughout the corn belt and the East- 
ern States, and we believe more seeding is done 
in the spring than fall. In sections of heavy rain- 
fall, it is doubtful whether spring seeding is advis- 
able on account of the weeds. So early fall 
seeding would be preferable. 

Alfalfa may be seeded in spring, with small 
grain in the same manner as Clover. The seed 
bed should be well prepared the previous fall or 
early in the spring. When seeding with a nurse 
crop, use a grain that may be removed early and 
the grain crop should be reduced about a half, so 
as not to smother out the Alfalfa. Better results 
can be expected from spring seeding by using a 
very light nurse crop and seeding about the last 
of April and then remove the nurse crop for hay 
in June. This keeps the weeds down and the 
Alfalfa should be up nicely, so that after the 
nurse crop is removed, it should have a start of 
the weeds. 

20 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

Splendid results are obtained from spring seed- 
ing by sowing without a nurse crop. If this 
method is to be followed it is well to plow the 
ground in the fall or early in the spring and cul- 
tivate the ground from time to time, so that much 
of the weed seed will be destroyed before seed- 
ing. About May first the Alfalfa should be sown 
and as it is then warm the Alfalfa will soon start 
and if there is not too much rain the Alfalfa 
should get a start of the weeds. 

In the corn belt seeding in this manner has 
given excellent results, especially in dry years. 
When Clover has been a complete failure on 
account of drought, Alfalfa has done well and 
makes a most excellent stand. 

When fall seeding is practiced it usually fol- 
lows a small grain crop. It is very important 
that the ground be plowed at once after the grain 
is cut and then harrowed until a perfect seed bed 
has been secured. It is best to plow shallow, as 
a more compact seed bed will result. We find 
that double discing the stubble is proving very 
satisfactory. When the ground is dry, discing 
might be easier done and more satisfactorily, as a 
good seed bed can be secured. The proper time 
for fall seeding is the latter part of August or 
during September. It is well to sow as early in 

21 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

the fall as possible, so that the plant may become 
well rooted before freezing weather. There is 
danger of winter killing if sowed too late. 

Experiments have proven that it is a little 
surer to summer fallow the ground and sow the 
last of July or the first of August, but this causes 
the loss of a crop one year, and the writer does 
not advise following this method on this account. 
Good results may be expected by seeding either 
in the spring or in the fall, after harvesting grain, 
if no time is lost in getting the ground ready. It 
is essential to put much work on the land and get 
as good a seed bed as it is possible to obtain. 

The amount of seed required per acre varies 
somewhat and you will find different amounts 
recommended. It is not necessary to sow more 
than 15 pounds of our World Brand Alfalfa, as 
this makes a heavy seeding, and a less amount 
may be sufficient. If you have seed of low ger- 
mination it would require more, but it is policy 
to get the best when seeding Alfalfa. 

Good results can be expected by either sowing 
broadcast by hand, or by using a hand seeder. 
The Cyclone hand seeder can be recommended 
as a special broadcast hand seeder for sowing 
all kinds of grass seed. After sowing, harrow, 
so as to cover the seed ; or the seed may be drilled 
if the ground is even and the seed can be covered 

22 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 



so as not to put part in too deep. The seed 
should be covered about one-half inch — not over 
an inch. When the seed is covered too deep the 
plant will be spindling and sickly and not nearly 
so vigorous as it would be if but lightly covered. 
Alfalfa germinates very quickly and if sowed 
properly in a well prepared seed bed it will all be 
up in a week's time, providing there is sufficient 
moisture and weather is warm. You will be sur- 
prised at the rapid growth it makes and often- 
times early fall seeding will get a foot high be- 
fore frost. 



23 




THE GROWING OF GOLD 

CHAPTER V. 

CARING FOR ALFALFA. 

| HEN Alfalfa is seeded in the spring with- 
out a nurse crop, it is well to go over the 
field several times during the summer, 
clipping the weeds so that they do not smother 
the young plants. The clipping of the Alfalfa 
stimulates the growth of the plant. As a rule, 
you cannot expect much of a crop the first season, 
although early seeding on a rich field producing 
a rapid growth might be cut for hay the last of 
August. It is best to leave a large growth on the 
ground as a cover during winter. The crop on 
the ground will hold the snow and there is much 
less danger of winter killing than when the 
ground is bare. 

Fall seeding requires no special attention the 
first fall, as the entire growth should be left as a 
cover crop. The following year the crop should 
yield three or four cuttings. The first crop should 
be ready to cut about the middle of June and 
when cutting it should not be mowed too low. 

The disc is resorted to by many to thicken and 
even a stand of Alfalfa. It is well to use a disc 
after the first year, provided conditions are favor- 
able, but care should be exercised to prevent 

24 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

harm. Where a stand is thin, the weeds, if not 
eradicated, will soon destroy the Alfalfa. 

The report on cultivating Alfalfa, by Prof. 
Hughes, is no doubt one of the best methods of 
handling : "The ordinary disc has no doubt been 
used more generally for this purpose than any 
other implement, but it is not nearly so good as a 
spring-tooth harrow or the Alfalfa renovator. 
While independent plants sometimes develop 
from portions of the crown of the Alfalfa, which 
are cut off by the disc, this hardly happens 
enough to be of great value in thickening the 
stand, while the plant may be injured by present- 
ing a favorable opening for fungus disease. 
Whether benefit is derived from cultivation with 
the disc is due to other factors than an increased 
number of plants. 

"The spring-tooth harrow, constructed of stiff 
springs, ended in small shovels, which are in con- 
tinual vibration as they pass through the soil, is 
very effective in removing the weeds and grass, 
without in any way injuring the Alfalfa plants, 
as the weeds and grass are shallow-rooted and 
easily pulled up. Alfalfa roots penetrate many 
feet in the soil and when the narrow shovel of 
the spring-tooth harrow comes in contact with 
them it springs far enough to one side to pass the 
plant without injuring it. 

25 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

"Sometimes the desired results are not secured 
from cultivation, because the work is not thor- 
ough enough. Many times the man doing the 
work is afraid of injuring the Alfalfa. We have 
cultivated Alfalfa until it seemed that no living 
plant could remain, and until the field appeared 
to be a perfectly prepared seed bed, yet the old 
crowns threw up new shoots and before frost the 
Alfalfa stood 14 inches high, 4 inches higher than 
other Alfalfa in the same field which had not 
been cultivated. This increased vigor was due in 
part to the fact that where the Alfalfa was not 
cultivated the grass was crowding it badly, while 
on the cultivated portion no weeds were to be 
seen. Ordinarily we would not recommend so 
severe treatment as this, but we do wish to 
impress the necessity of thorough cultivation." 

In the corn belt, blue grass is liable to be found 
troublesome in the Alfalfa field, and this can be 
successfully overcome by thorough cultivation, 
as above described. 

Some Alfalfa fields after the first year seem to 
be sickly and die out. This may be due to vari- 
ous causes, but if the land is properly inoculated 
the cause may be due to lack of lime or fertility. 
Much benefit may be derived from top dressing 
the Alfalfa field with a good dressing of well 
rotted manure that contains no weed or grass 

26 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

seed. Usually manuring the fields helps the 
growth and secures greater yields of hay. 

The life of an Alfalfa field depends quite 
largely on how well the plant succeeds. Alfalfa 
is a perennial plant and some fields have been 
known to exist fifty years, but as a rule it is 
advisable to rotate crops and as Alfalfa is a 
splendid fertilizer, it is well to change the field 
as soon as better results might be expected, by 
plowing up and planting to some other crop. It 
is well to have some other field of Alfalfa com- 
ing on, as no one can well afford to be without 
the crop. After growing it successfully, it re- 
quires no urging to have reseeding done. Every 
successful Alfalfa grower is very enthusiastic 
and some become "Alfalfa cranks," so to speak. 



27 




THE GROWING OF GOLD 



CHAPTER VI. 

HARVESTING OF ALFALFA. 

F all the various points to study in the 
growing of Alfalfa, none is of more 
importance than the cutting and curing 
ot the hay. Upon the proper execution of these 
two things depends largely the value which may 
be obtained from your Alfalfa field. 

The general rule is to cut Alfalfa just as it 
is coming into bloom. Feeding experiments 
show that the feeding value is the highest when 
it is cut at the time it begins to bloom. It is 
well to cut Alfalfa when you notice the basal 
shoots starting which are to form the growth 
of the new crop. By cutting at this time the 
new crop starts immediately. So no time is lost 
and larger yields are secured. If dry weather 
has prevented the basal shoots from starting, 
cutting should not be delayed so as to lose the 
value of the hay. 

Alfalfa hay should be gotten up without rain, 
if possible, for the rain turns it black and much 
of the feeding value is lost. In the West where 
there is little rainfall during harvest time, there 
is not much difficulty experienced in getting the 
hay up without rain. There they often start 

28 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

mowing in the morning, and can put the hay 
in the windrows in the afternoon and the fol- 
lowing day commence stacking. In the humid 
zone more difficulties are encountered, and it is 
often hard to get the first cutting up without 
suffering some loss on account of rain. 

The quicker the crop can be cured and the 
less handling it receives, the better the quality 
of hay. The leaves shatter very easily when wet, 
and as the greatest per cent of nourishment is in 
the leaves of Alfalfa hay, so the least possible 
loss of them should be avoided. It is well to put 
Alfalfa in the windrow just as soon as it becomes 
well wilted or about half cured, and either allow 
it to finish curing in the windrow or in the cock. 

Alfalfa hay can be stacked much damper 
than is supposed, without risk of spoiling in the 
stack. It may turn black if stacked too green, 
but it is better to put in stack a little too green 
than to have it suffer on account of rain, as it 
will contain greater feed value. When the 
side-delivery rakes are used, it is much easier 
to cure Alfalfa. It can be put in small win- 
drows as soon as it is well wilted, and hauled to 
the barn. 

It is much better to put Alfalfa hay under 
cover. If there is not sufficient barn room and 
it is necessary to stack, care should be used in 

29 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

stacking and the top of the stack should be 
covered with slough hay or with some crop that 
will shed water. Alfalfa hay is too valuable 
to lose any by careless handling and the entire 
crop should be preserved with the least pos- 
sible loss. 

Alfalfa does not have as great a value as a 
pasture crop as it does a hay crop, although 
it is used with great success for pasturing all 
kinds of stock. An Alfalfa field should not be 
pastured the first year and at no time should 
it be pastured too closely. It is much better to 
have the field under-stocked than over-stocked. 

There is some danger in pasturing sheep and 
cattle on Alfalfa, as it is liable to cause bloat. 
This danger is much increased when pasturing 
young Alfalfa or Alfalfa on moist soil which 
makes a rapid growth. Animals should not be 
turned on Alfalfa when wet or the stock is very 
hungry. With sheep and cattle the Alfalfa 
should be well advanced towards blooming. 

Alfalfa makes excellent pasture for hogs, and 
no hog raiser should be without it. Best results 
might be obtained when pasturing hogs by hav- 
ing the field divided, allowing one field to be 
pastured off while the other was making new 
growth. By changing from one field to the other 

30 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

the Alfalfa will do much better and the produc- 
tion will be greatly increased. 

Alfalfa seeds in paying quantities only when 
there is a shortage of moisture. Alfalfa seed 
is produced quite generally throughout most of 
the Western states, but in the rain belt there is 
no seed crop except in a dry year. As a rule 
the second crop is cut for seed, but in some 
sections the third crop is saved in preference. 
When allowed to seed, the Alfalfa should be 
cut when about three-fourths of the pods have 
turned brown. The crop may be harvested in 
the same manner as Clover or a self-binder may 
be used to advantage. Alfalfa can be threshed 
with an ordinary grain thresher, but a huller 
will do much better work. The yields run from 
2 to 6 bushels of seed per acre and instances 
of 10 to 12 bushels per acre have been reported. 



31 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 



CHAPTER VII. 



SCIENTIFIC FEED VALUE. 




OU will find Alfalfa recognized as the 
King of forage plants, as there is no 
question about its great feeding value. 
The value of Alfalfa as a feed is well handled 
by Bulletin No. 137, issued by the Iowa Agri- 
cultural Experiment Station and is herewith 
given in full: "Alfalfa has a great feeding 
value, either as hay or pasture. It has a rela- 
tive high content of digestible protein. 

All crops other than the legumes contain a 
relatively high per cent of carbohydrates, and 
a relatively low per cent of protein — the stuff 
feeders are forced to buy as concentrates to bal- 
ance rations. Alfalfa, on the contrary, has a rela- 
tively high per cent of protein and is easily di- 
gested, qualities that cannot be over-estimated. 

TABLE IV. 
The Average Composition of Alfalfa Compared with Other Crops. 



Crop 



Water 


Ash 


Crude 


Crude 






Protein 


Fiber 


8.1 


8.8 


14.6 


28.9 


15.3 


6.2 


12.3 


24.8 


13.2 


4.4 


5.9 


29.0 


10.6 


1.5 


10.3 


2.2 


10.4 


3.2 


11.4 


10.8 


40.5 


3.4 


3.8 


19.7 


9.2 


5.1 


4.0 


37.0 



Nitrogen 

Free 
Extract 



Fat 



Alfalfa .... 
Red Clover. 
Timothy . . 

Corn 

Oats 

Corn Stover 
Oat Straw. 



37.4 
38.1 
45.0 
70.4 
59.4 
31.5 
42.4 



2.1 
3.3 

2.5 
5.0 
4.8 
1.1 
2.3 



32 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 



Alfalfa hay is especially valuable to the dairy- 
man, though it is also known to give excellent 
results with all classes of live stock. It is espe- 
cially valuable where a rapid development of 
muscle and bone is essential, as with brood sows, 
young pigs and steers. 

table v. 

The Food Value per Average Acre and Other Crops Based on 

the Average Composition and the Average Yield 

for the State for 1909 and 1910. 



Crop 


Ash 


Crude 
Protein 


Crude 
Fiber 


Nitrogen 

Free 
Extract 


Fat 


Alfalfa 


488 

155 

110 

102 

31 

70 

135 

32 

102 


808 
307 
147 
293 
215 

79 
195 
114 

80 


1600 
620 
722 
456 
458 
411 
852 
109 
743 


2070 
950 
112 

2119 

1464 
655 

1450 
598 
852 


116 


Red Clover* 


82 

62 

127 

104 




23 


Grain 


94 
48 




46 



'Assuming yield to be that given for "Tame Hay." 

Considering the average yield of various crops 
for those years in which Alfalfa data are avail- 
able in Iowa, Alfalfa produced 5.5 times as much 
protein per acre as Timothy, 4 times as much 
as Oats, 2.75 times as much as Corn, and 2.6 
times as much as Red Clover. 

As a pasture for hogs the animal husbandry 
section of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment 
Station reports a net profit of $184.92 per acre 
from Alfalfa, the hogs selling at 6 cents and 
the corn fed costing 49 cents for 56 pounds of 

33 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

grain on the cob. And this when an acre of 
blue grass handled in the same way gave a 
profit of but $97.23. 

TABLE VI. 

Showing the Average Per Cent Digestibility of Alfalfa as Com- 
pared with Other Crops. 



Crop 


Dry 

Matter 


Protein 


Crude 
Fiber 


Nitrogen 

Free 
Extract 


Fat 


Alfalfa 


62 
57 
55 
91 
70 
57 
48 


72 
58 
48 
76 
77 
36 
33 


47 
54 
50 
58 
31 
64 
54 


72 
64 
62 
93 
77 
59 
46 


43 




55 

50 
86 


Oats 


89 




67 
36 



The table on the actual feeding value of Al- 
falfa in the Government Bulletin will be of inter- 
est and is worth your study, and is given as 
contained in Farmer's Bulletin 339. 

"The following table indicates the actual feed- 
ing value of eight different kinds of feed, 
based on the amount of digestible nutrients con- 
tained in them. These values are calculated from 
the figures given in the table just preceding. 
The value per pound assigned as the basis of 
calculation are protein, $0.06774; carbohydrates 
(starches, etc.), $0.0064; ether extract (fat), 
$0.0112. These figures are merely relative, as 
the prices of the food elements vary in the dif- 
ferent sections and from year to year. It will 

34 




3 
u 



- 



,$mmz 





>. 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

be noted that the value of Alfalfa hay is slightly 
more than double that of Timothy." 

Actual Feeding Value of Different Feeds Based on Amounts 
of Digestible Nutrients. 



Feed 


Value 
Per Ton 


Feed 


Value 
Per Ton 


Fresh Alfalfa 

Alfalfa Hay 


$ 7.00 

5.00 

20.16 

14.12 




$ 9.80 
19.76 
22.80 




20.16 



We are giving a table figured on estimated 
yields per acre and the actual test of protein in 
each kind of plant and its comparative values 
per ton. We have taken as our basis Timothy 
hay at $5.00 per ton and have estimated the 
yield on Alfalfa at 5 tons per acre, which is 
conservative. 



Value per 
Kind per A. Protein Protein Protein A. Based 

on Protein 



Alfalfa 

Red Clover. 
Timothy . . , 
Oat Straw. 



Yield 


Per Cent 


Pounds 


Pounds 


per A. 


Protein 


Protein 


Protein 


Tons 


Hay 


Per Ton 


per A. 


5 


14.6 


292 


1460 


2X 


12.3 


246 


615 


2 


5.9 


118 


236 


IH 


4.0 


80 


120 



$61.86 

26.06 

10.00 

5.09 



This table speaks volumes and shows the great 
value of Alfalfa hay as a protein crop. Protein 
feeds are the ones sought after by the dairyman, 
cattle raisers and growers of stock. Proteins 
come high when it is necessary to purchase them 
in concentrate feeds such as chop, bran, oilmeal, 
tankage, etc. 



35 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

Don't fail to study these tables and see for 
yourself the great value of Alfalfa as a feed. 
There is no plant that will make you more money 
than growing Alfalfa for feeding purposes. It 
cannot be surpassed and is a great money maker. 



30 




THE GROWING OF GOLD 

CHAPTER VIII. 

ALFALFA THE MONEY CROP. 

UCH has been written on the value of 
Alfalfa, but as yet the great value of 
this plant has not been realized by the 
average farmer. Alfalfa growing is just in its 
infancy and greater profits are to be realized from 
this plant from now on than ever before. Al- 
falfa will be a much more profitable crop for 
the Eastern farmer than it has ever been for 
the Western farmer, as the market is near at 
hand and the entire crop can be turned into profit 
without paying long freight hauls and various 
other expenses. 

Every dairyman should be a large grower of 
Alfalfa hay as he cannot afford to be without 
it. There is no crop that will bring larger re- 
turns for him and there is no feed that will 
do so much good as Alfalfa hay. The Govern- 
ment Bulletin reports: "Experiments made by 
the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station 
in regard to the replacing of grain with Alfalfa 
in ration for dairy cows indicated that \y 2 
pounds of Alfalfa will replace 1 pound of wheat 
bran. The test showed with Alfalfa hay at $10.00 
a ton and wheat bran at $20.00 the saving 

37 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

effected by substituting Alfalfa for wheat bran 
is $2.80 for every 100 pounds of butter and 20 
cents for every 100 pounds of milk." When 
a crop can be grown successfully that will produce 
such a saving in feed, how can a successful dairy- 
man be without it? 

Alfalfa is just as valuable to the stock grower 
as it is to the dairyman, and it behooves the 
farmer who has been constantly growing corn 
to rotate the land and start growing Alfalfa. 
Much larger results may be expected from an 
acre of Alfalfa than an acre of corn as a money 
crop, besides the great advantage of building 
up the land and increasing its value, rather than 
depleting the soil and lowering its value as with 
constant corn growing. 

The Government Bulletin reports : "The Utah 
Agricultural Experiment Station conducted an 
experiment extending over a period of five years 
to determine the quantity of beef produced to 
the acre from Alfalfa hay cut in the different 
stages of maturity. It was found that hay cut 
when in full bloom produced 562 pounds of beef 
annually to the acre, while that cut in early bloom 
produced 706 pounds. The hay that was not 
cut until half the blooms had fallen produced 
only 490 pounds of beef to the acre. At the 
Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station 2.41 

38 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

pounds of beef was produced daily on a full 
ration of corn and Alfalfa, while only 1.48 
pounds were produced by a ration of corn and 
prairie hay. 

These experiments are convincing proof of the 
value of Alfalfa hay to the cattle feeder, and 
there is no crop that works so well with corn 
as Alfalfa. Alfalfa hay supplies the protein 
that is so much needed in the corn belt, and 
it can be grown so much cheaper than it can 
be secured any other way. It is essential to 
study economic conditions and produce beef as 
cheaply as it can possibly be produced, if you 
wish to make money in the growing and fattening 
of cattle. 

The value of Alfalfa as a hog feed cannot be 
over estimated and should be considered by every 
hog grower. The greatest value no doubt is 
secured from the pasture, although Alfalfa hay 
makes excellent feed during the winter months. 
It is relished very much and is excellent for 
brood sows, as they enter the spring farrowing 
season in much better condition. The value of 
Alfalfa as a hog feed is given in the Government 
Bulletin as follows: "At the Kansas Agricul- 
tural Experiment Station it has been shown that 
an acre of Alfalfa produced 776 pounds of pork 
during the season. This calculation was made 

39 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

by deducting the probable gain due to the small 
ration of grain fed in connection with the pas- 
turage. In another experiment it was shown 
that for every bushel of Kaffir Corn meal and 
7.83 pounds of Alfalfa hay the hogs made a gain 
of 10.88 pounds. When the Alfalfa was with- 
held from the ration the gain was only 7.48 
pounds for each bushel of grain fed. 

Alfalfa is a feed that is good not only for cattle 
and hogs, but it is equally as valuable for sheep, 
horses, or poultry. It is a crop that is in demand 
on every farm by all kinds of stock. 

After reading the reports given on Alfalfa, 
it would seem that it would take no urging to 
have every farmer sowing Alfalfa, but such is 
not the case. Farmers are a good deal like 
sheep in this respect, and it is hard to get one 
to take the lead, but after one starts and makes 
a success, the balance will soon follow. There 
are now progressive farmers in nearly every 
neighborhood who are starting the growing of 
Alfalfa, and in a few years the entire neighbor- 
hood will be growing it. Why not be the first 
one to start growing Alfalfa in your section 
if it has not been grown? You could do your 
country and neighbor no greater service and at 
the same time you would be adding great value 
to your farm. 

40 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 



The growing of Alfalfa is certainly ''The 
Growing of Gold," as it brings a threefold in- 
come. When you seed your field to Alfalfa, 
you are planting a crop that will in all probabil- 
ity bring you a larger net income than you 
could expect to realize from any other crop. It 
is not uncommon to get a yield of from 4 to 6 
tons of hay per acre, valued from $10.00 to 
$20.00 per ton. We have many customers who 
have reported that the crop from one year was 
over $100.00 per acre. While you are growing 
a crop that is bringing you from $50.00 to 
$100.00 per acre, you are also adding much 
wealth to your farm. Alfalfa is a great fertil- 
izer, and when you stop growing it and wish to 
grow some other crop your land has increased 
in fertility until it is much more valuable. You 
have also added value to your farm, as real 
estate value increases wherever Alfalfa grows. 
The United States Department of Agriculture 
says : "In addition to the hay and seed crop, 
Alfalfa adds $100.00 to the value of every acre 
on which it grows." If you want to sell your 
farm, seed it to Alfalfa and you will have no 
difficulty, and the longer you wait before sell- 
ing the more you will realize. Many farms have 
doubled in value by making no other improve- 
ment than growing Alfalfa. The value of 

41 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

Alfalfa is appreciated in all sections and no 
matter where located, you can add great wealth 
to your farm by using Alfalfa seed. 

Don't think because you have not grown Al- 
falfa that you cannot grow it successfully. Be 
willing to give it a fair trial for you can make a 
success of it just the same as thousands and 
thousands of other farmers. It is stated by 
good authority that Alfalfa will grow on 99 
per cent of the farms in the United States, so 
we know of no crop that can be grown in all 
sections so successfully. Read this book care- 
fully and by using judgment, there is little 
chance of you failing to make a success. Cor- 
respondence is always welcomed by the A. A. 
Berry Seed Co., and if you have any particular 
questions to ask or desire special information, be 
free to write us and it will afford us pleasure in 
helping you along to greater success in the grow- 
ing of Alfalfa. 



42 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 



put 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE BEST ALFALFA SEED. 

I HE importance of good seed is a subject 
that should have the careful thought 
and consideration of every person who 
contemplates seeding Alfalfa. There is a vast 
difference in the seed offered, and as results 
depend quite largely on the seed used it is neces- 
sary to use care and precaution in securing 
seed. 

It has been proven by different experiments 
that northern-grown seed is more hardy than 
southern stock and it is not advisable to get 
seed too far south. We have found that non- 
irrigated Nebraska-grown seed is unusually 
hardy and is giving the most satisfactory re- 
sults of any seed we have handled and the 
writer does not hesitate to recommend it for all 
sections. We have many customers throughout 
South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and East- 
ern states, who are using this seed and find it 
extremely hardy and giving excellent results. 
The Montana seed is considered good if it is 
true to name, but it has been found that much 
of the so-called Montana seed offered by the 
large wholesale seed companies and handled by 

43 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

retail merchants is not grown in Montana and 
is not what it should be. This is also true of 
the Grimm Alfalfa and some unscrupulous deal- 
ers are selling Grimm Alfalfa simply because 
there is a call for it and a fancy price can be 
secured. As yet, the true Grimm Alfalfa is only 
offered in a limited way, as the price is prohib- 
itive for the pure stock. Excellent results can 
be obtained without using the Grimm Alfalfa 
and it is not advisable to try to secure it until 
later, when the seed is plentiful and prices more 
reasonable. 

The Turkestan Alfalfa is demanded by many 
of the Northern growers and by Western cus- 
tomers who are located in a high altitude. The 
pure Northern Turkestan seed comes from a 
semi-arid region and is recommended very highly 
for the non-irrigated portion of the West and 
for high altitudes. It is very hardy and is prov- 
ing an excellent variety, but it is not considered 
quite equal to the common American Alfalfa for 
the humid section. 

Foreign Alfalfa seed is being offered in the 
United States very freely by all large whole- 
sale seed companies, who import many carloads, 
as the price is about $3.00 per cwt. less than 
domestic seed. This seed is sold to consumers 
by the local dealer who handles seed, so it is to 

44 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

your interest to be careful about buying your 
seed. In most cases you will be surer of getting 
high grade seed by sending to a good reliable 
mail order house, which builds up its business on 
the quality of seed supplied. 

The A. A. Berry Seed Co. takes great pride 
in being able to offer their customers the very 
best Alfalfa seed at right prices, and anyone 
who needs seed can depend on the quality be- 
ing as represented. We buy our Alfalfa seed 
direct from the grower and can supply seed 
which is true to name on which you can abso- 
lutely depend. We deal extensively in Alfalfa 
and are in position to furnish the best grade of 
seed at a lower price than is asked by many 
competitors for inferior seed. Our World Brand 
Alfalfa is the grade to buy and you cannot make 
a mistake in buying your seed if you can secure 
this grade. It is sold subject to either State or 
Government test and there is no seed that will 
give better results. Don't use poor seed at any 
price, and on the other hand, don't pay an ex- 
orbitant price for seed that does not test so 
well as our World Brand. Always compare our 
prices and samples before buying. 



45 




THE GROWING OF GOLD 

CHAPTER X. 

WHAT OTHERS SAY. 

N concluding this little booklet, we are 
going to give some practical letters re- 
ceived from different customers who 
have made a success of growing Alfalfa. These 
letters should be helpful to our readers, as it 
should give them more courage and the utmost 
faith in the Alfalfa crop. What is being done by 
others can be done by you, if you apply the same 
energy and work for the same results. 

A Nebraska Customer Gives His Method. 

Dorchester, Neb. 
Gentlemen: 

I am pleased to give you the results of the "World Brand" 
Alfalfa Seed which I bought of you last year. Have several 
different pieces of Alfalfa, but the soil is nearly the same, so I 
tried 15 acres which had been in oats and harvested in 1912. 
On August 5, 1912, this aforesaid 15 acres was plowed 4 inches 
deep and harrowed. About August 20 to 22, 1912, we used the 
disk thoroughly and harrowed it again, and used the seed drill 
for seeding, using only eleven pounds of seed per acre. 

I have just finished cutting aforesaid 15 acres of Alfalfa. Am 
frank to say that it is the nicest and heaviest crop I have seen, 
getting more than one ton of hay per acre at first cutting. I 
do not have worn out land, but my opinion is to prepare the 
land for Alfalfa the same as prepared for garden; using the 
seed drill and sowing the best seed obtainable. "The best is 
always the cheapest." I have been one of your customers for a 

food many years, in buying all kinds of Grass Seed, Wheat and 
'otatoes, and have found out that I have no reason to look for 
a better seed company. I believe your satisfied customers are 
your best recommendation and advertisement. Yours truly, 

E. C. SEMLER. 

46 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 



LETTER FROM A PRACTICAL GROWER IN SOUTH 
DAKOTA. 

Aberdeen, South Dakota. 
Gentlemen: 

In reply to yours of June 10th will state that I have at 
present thirty acres of alfalfa. Seven acres I sowed seven years 
ago this spring, eight acres six years ago this spring and fif- 
teen acres a year ago this spring. Would advise plowing the 
land as early in the fall as convenient, cultivating the same 
so as not to allow any weeds to seed, and also making it as 
even as possible. In the spring I would disk it and drag it 
until just after corn planting, then I would seed it with either 
broadcast or by drilling, using from six to ten pounds of seed 
per acre. I have broadcasted mine, using ten pounds. This 
year I seeded fifty-five acres; forty acres about nine pounds 
to the acre and fifteen acres ten pounds to the acre. If the 
land is properly prepared there is no trouble about growing 
Alfalfa in this section. 

Yours very truly, 

ISAAC LINCOLN. 

THIS PARTY INCREASES HIS ACREAGE. 

Kalona, Iowa. 
Dear Sir: 

The Alfalfa seed I got from you last spring grew fine. I 
would like for vou to send me samples and prices on some more 
seed of the very best grade of Alfalfa, as I am going to sow 
some this fall. Yours truly, 

HENRY BURKLEY. 

GOOD SUCCESS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 

Red Oak, Iowa. 
Dear Sirs: 

In reply to your letter inquiring about what success I had 
with the Alfalfa Seed I got of you last fall. The seed was 
good as I ever seen, and I got a good stand. I plowed my 
ground about 6 inches deep, and disked and harrowed several 
times till I got it in good condition, then sowed the seed and 
run a plank over it twice. 

L. N. SMITH. r 

MINNESOTA CUSTOMER REPORTS OUR SEED PROVES 

BEST. 

Morgan, Minn. 
Gentlemen: 

What are your prices on Alsike Clover and Alsike and Timothy 
mixed, such seed as we got last spring. The Alfalfa we got from 
you is surely fine if it will only stand the weather. We bought 
seed, that is Alfalfa seed, from Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, 
Minnesota and your house, but your seed was the best and 
cleanest. We had seed tested at the Minnesota Experiment 
Station. C. B. HUSCHKE. 

47 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 

ALFALFA DID FINE IN ILLINOIS. 

Sheffield, 111. 

Dear Sirs: 

Yours of recent date received and would say I had a splendid 
stand of Alfalfa from the seed I bought from your firm. 

I plowed two acres of oat stubble ground in August and 
hauled four 60 bushel loads of sweet clover soil on them, 
disked and harrowed, sowed the seed and harrowed several 
times. We had a good rain the next day and the Alfalfa came 
up splendidly. Yours truly, 

EDWARD HARVEY. 

A VERY PRACTICAL LETTER FROM AN IOWA GROWER. 

Massena, Iowa. 
Gentlemen: 

Your request for my experience in raising Alfalfa at hand. 
I am pleased to state that I have had very good success indeed, 
much better than I hoped to have. I have been growing it for 
the last five years and have purchased all my seed of you and I 
have never failed to get a fine stand. I sow in August not 
later than the 15th or 20th on ground from which I have taken 
a crop of winter wheat. I double disk the ground as soon as 
I can get the wheat off, then plow. I double disk again and 
harrow, then sow broadcast from 15 to 20 pounds of seed per 
acre and harrow once. I have never used any commercial inocu- 
lation of any kind. I try to cover all the ground I intend to 
sow with manure from the sheds which is hauled on my 
winter wheat in the winter and early spring. 

After the first year I cut from three to four times a year, 
owing to the season. I now have about 75 head of hogs run- 
ning on a six acre field of it, and I consider it the best hog 
pasture there is. I cut a fair crop off this field about the first 
of June and it stands about a foot high now. I find it much 
easier to cure than clover and makes the finest hay in the 
world. I can't understand why every farmer in Southwestern 
Iowa don't grow it, as it is easily grown and will stand the dry 
weather better than almost any other grass. 

Please send me samples and prices on seed, as I expect to 
sow some this fall again. Very truly, 

E. E. GRIMES. 

DIFFERENT METHOD FOLLOWED BY THIS PARTY. 

Elbon, So. Dak. 
Gentlemen: 

In sowing Alfalfa, my preference is for ground cultivated the 
previous year to potatoes or corn, which I disk in early spring 
and seed about May 1st after another disking, about 6 pounds 
per acre, and harrow lightly. But have had good success with 
spring plowing when followed by rains to settle the ground. 
On dry upland we have had good success drilling in rows 3 

48 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 



feet apart, about 2 pounds of seed per acre, and give it an 
occasional cultivation. This is mostly for the purpose of raising 
seed, but often get a first cutting for hay. 

E. A. MORRISON. 

ALFALFA SHIPPED BETTER THAN SAMPLE. 

Laporte, Ind. 
Gentlemen: 

If the Alfalfa Seed which I bought from you had not tested 
up to your agreement you certainly would have received a vigor- 
ous kick from me and the seed back, but as it tested much 
better than the sample which you sent I think it only fair to 
advise you. Therefore, I am enclosing, herewith, the copies 
received by me from the State Agricultural College showing 
the test made of the sample before buying and also of the seed 
received. You will see that the seed you shipped me was much 
better than the sample sent before buying. The sample you 
sent before buying contained 98.55 of pure seed, while the 
seed you shipped after buying contained 99.6, for which I 
thank you. Cordially yours, 

DAVID H. REEDER. 

SAVED MONEY BY PURCHASING SEED FROM US. 

Braymer, Mo. 
Dear Sir: 

I received your shipment of 20 lbs. of Alfalfa and 1^2 bus. 
of Alsike and Timothy mixed and I want to say that it is the 
finest and cleanest seed I ever saw. 1 saved from three to 
four dollars by sending to your firm. 

RUSSELL ROBERTS. 

PROF. HOLDEN URGES EVERY FARMER TO GROW 
ALFALFA. 

Mr. Holden says: "Alfalfa is destined to revolutionize agri- 
culture in the United States. It is not difficult to grow. It is 
today grown on the borders of the civilization in the far 
Canadian north; it is grown in the southern tropics and from 
far east to west around the world. It will readily adapt itself 
to almost any character of soil or climatic condition. In the 
western states, alfalfa is successfully grown on mountain ranges 
in Montana and Colorado, nearly eight thousand feet above sea 
level. It is true that alfalfa will become a general farm crop 
in the United States in time. It will drift in by gravity. 

"Twenty years from now, everyone will wonder how we got 
along without alfalfa and why we did not recognize its great 
value sooner. 

"Many of the attempts in the past to grow alfalfa have failed, 
but, with our present knowledge of the requirements of the 
crop, there will be little, if any, more trouble in securing a 
stand of alfalfa than of clover. Alfalfa can be grown on your 
farm. Alfalfa is the cheapest source of protein. When wheat 

49 



THE GROWING OF GOLD 



bran is worth $22.00 per ton, good alfalfa hay is worth from 
$20.00 to $22.00 per ton. 

"Alfalfa is the most enriching crop we have and ensures 
large yields to the other crops that follow. Alfalfa adds 
humus to the soil, resists drought better than any other crop." 

OTHERS NOW BECOMING INTERESTED IN ALFALFA. 

Jefferson, Ohio. 
Dear Sir: 

Some years ago I got some Alfalfa seed from you which 
was very satisfactory and I am planning to sow a couple of 
acres and would like to know your prices on good seed, at least 
three pecks. Please let me know as soon as possible; there are 
probably others who will send to you through me. 

M. SEIBOLD JEFFERSON. 

SEED FULLY EQUAL TO SAMPLE, WELL PLEASED. 

Holland, Mich. 
Dear Sir: 

I have now received the seed in good condition and am very 
well pleased with it, as we find the seed as good as the sample 
you sent me. Yours very respectfully, 

BERT VAN KAMPEN. 

SIX TONS ALFALFA PER A., WORTH $75.00 OR MORE. 

St. Charles, Iowa. 
Gentlemen : 

I want to say that the seed I bought of you three yars ago 
has done real well for me. It gave me a No. 1 stand and 
each year since I have cut four heavy crops of Alfalfa, last 
year making a fraction over five tons per acre. The first two 
crops this year were much better than the two former years 
and the third crop for this year now stands knee high. It 
looks now as though I could safely count on six tons per acre. 

I have raised Alfalfa for eleven years in this county and 
have sown four different times and each time a success. Good 
land, proper seed bed, and best seed and sown with a drill is 
sure to win. _ 

Have received the samples of Alfalfa seed and you will 
find enclosed my check for $40.10, for World Brand Alfalfa. 
I examined the samples carefully and decided that the World 
Brand was the best to buy. Your very truly, 

E. J. TRUMBAUER. 



50 



Alfalfa Facts Worth Remembering 

Grow Gold on your farm. 

Alfalfa is King of forage crops. 

Don't sow poor or weedy seed. 

Alfalfa is ideal feed for dairying. ' 

Alfalfa makes an ideal soiling plant. 

Select fertile land that is well drained. 

Alfalfa is one of the best of soil builders. 

Alfalfa is a surer crop in Iowa than Clover. 

Don't give up if your first attempt is a failure. 

Use precaution when starting to pasture Alfalfa. 

Early Potatoes is a splendid crop to precede Alfalfa. 

Alfalfa hay is the forage crop to grow for largest returns. 

When using a nurse crop sow the grain very sparingly. 

Don't fail to keep the weeds clipped on spring seeding. 

Soil free from weeds is much better adapted to Alfalfa. 

Alfalfa should be cut when about one-tenth in blossom. 

An Alfalfa field should never be pastured the first season. 

Don't try to save money by the purchase of cheap seed. 

Every acre that grows Alfalfa increases the value $100.00. 

Alfalfa will not grow where the water is near the surface. 

Use 15 pounds of our World Brand Alfalfa seed to an acre. 

A ton of Alfalfa hav is eaual to a ton of bran is feed value. 

Inoculation is essential for the successful growing of the 
Alfalfa. 

Soil often requires liming for the best success of the Alfalfa. 

Don't be satisfied until you are growing Alfalfa on your farm. 

Don't lose the leaves; they constitute the best part of the hay. 

You can grow Alfalfa on your farm by following instructions. 

Don't sow on any but a finely prepared, well settled seed bed. 

Increased production can be expected by inoculating the seed. 

Alfalfa hay should be put under cover, as it does not shed rain. 

Use a spring tooth harrow to eradicate blue grass in an old 
Alfalfa field. 

Alfalfa should never be pastured off close, as it will cause 
weeds to start. 

Your success with Alfalfa depends quite largely on the prepara- 
tion of the seed bed. 

Alfalfa is one of the most highly nutritious and palatable of 
feeds for all classes of stock. 

Alfalfa will grow successfully on a larger per cent of the farms 
in the United States than any other plant. 







m\ 



ALFALFA 

PURITY 99.6 
GERMINATION 95. 

CtAftWDA. IOWA 



1 




Planters' Seed Table 

LEGAL WEIGHTS TO BUSHEL IN IOWA. 

C>uan. to sow Lbs. to 

one acre Bu. 

Alsike and Timothy mixed. »» 12 to 15 lbs. 50 

Alfalfa 12 to 20 lbs. 60 

Artichokes 4 to 6 bu. 50 

Barley 154 to 2 bu. 48 

Buckwheat 50 to 60 lbs. 52 

Bluegrass — Kentucky 2 to-2;4 bu. 14 

Bluegrass — English or Meadow Fescue. .. .25 to 30 lbs. 24 

Beans — Garden 1 bu. 60 

Beans — Soja 30 to 60 lbs. 60 

Beans — Lima 40 to 60 lbs. 56 

Beans — Navy 30 to 40 lbs. 60 

Bromus Inermis 20 to 30 lbs. 14 

Broom Corn S to 10 lbs. 50 

Clover — White 4 to 6 lbs. 60 

Glover— Red 8 to 10 lbs. 60 

Clover — Alsike 6 to 10 lbs. 60 

Clover — Crimson 10 to 15 lbs. 60 

Clover — Mammoth 8 to 12 lbs. 60 

Clover — Sweet (Unhulled 20 lbs.) hulled 15 1b. 60 

Cow Peas 1 to 2 bu. 60 

Corn — On Ear TO 

Corn — Shelled % bu. .">t> 

Corn — Pop (in the ear 70 lbs.) 6 to 8 lbs. 56 

Sweet Corn — Shelled 6 to 10 lbs. 

Cane (Drill 6 to 8 lbs.), Broadcast 1 to 2 bu. 50 

Flax y x to 1 bu. 56 

Hemp \/ 2 to 1 bu. 44 

Jerusalem Corn — In drills 5 to 7 lbs. 56 

Kaffir Corn — Drill 5 to 6 lbs. 56 

Kaffir Corn — -Broadcast 1 to 2 bu. 56 

Millet for Hay 35 to 50 lbs. 50 

Millet for Seed 25 to 30 lbs. 50 

Oats 2 to 3bu. S2 

Onion Sets — Bottom to 12 bu. S2 

Onion Sets — Top 5 to 6 bu. 

Orchard Grass l l / 2 to 2 z / 2 bu. M 

Peas — Garden. Smooth Seed 2 bu. 

Peas — Garden. Wrinkled Seed 2 bu. 60 

Peanuts in Pod 2 bu. 22 

Potatoes — White or Irish 8 to 12 bu. 60 

Potatoes — Sweet 10,000 to 15,000 plants. 50 

Red Top — Fancy SoHd seed S to 10 lbs. 14 

Rape — Dwarf Essex. Broadcast 4 to 6 lbs. 50 

Rye 1'itolKbu. 56 

Rye Grass 20 to 30 lbs. 14 

Speltz or Emmer 1 ]/ 2 to 2 bu. 40 

Sunflower — Russian 3 to 4 lbs. 22 

Timothy 10 to 12 lbs. 45 

Vetches 30 to 50 lbs. 50 

Wheat, broadcast 1 \ 2 to 2 bu. 60 

Wheat, in drills 1 : 4 to 1 \ 2 bu. 60 

At A, Berry Seed Co., Clarinda, la. 



Use Nodule-germ Culture 

And Watch the Increased Results 

The illustration ex- 
plains the results of 
Nodule-germ better 
than words. It is mar- 
velous what Nodule- 
germ will do and we 
want to urge you to 
use it and test it out 
by your own observa- 
tion. Nitrogen culture 
is highly recommended 
by the U. S. Dept. of 
Agriculture, in Farm- 
ers Bulletin No. 315. It 
is very easily applied 
to the seed and it is 
much more satisfactory 
than obtaining soil 
from neighboring fields 
which might have ob- 
jectionable weeds. 
There is an ever in- 
creasing demand for 
Nodule-germ. The best farmers are using it 
on Clover, Alfalfa, Vetch and all legumes. You 
can increase results wonderfully by inocula- 
tion. Full description for using is found in 
every package sent out. Don't fail to let us 
hear from you if you require Nitrogen Culture 
for we will supply you with the best product 
on the market at right prices. See catalog for 
complete description and prices. 




Alfalfa' 
Inoculated 



Alfalfa not 
Inoculated" 



3^-Acre Package - 
5-Acre " 

20-Acre Package - - - $14.00 



PRICES: 




$0.60 1-Acre Package - • 
4.00 M-Acre " 


■ - $1.00 

■ - 7.50 



SAVE MONEY 

When Buying Your Grass Seed 

You can do this by buying direct from the 
producing section. We are producers and also 
buy direct from the farmers, so that we can 
offer Grass Seed at most reasonable prices. 

We sell many carloads each season of Clover, 
Timothy, Alfalfa and Grass Seeds of all kinds, 
saving our customers from $1.00 to $2.00 per 
bushel on both Clover and Alfalfa. 

We can save you money by dealing direct 
with us. You eliminate the jobber's and retail 
merchant's profit by sending to us for* seed. 

We handle our seed on a very close margin. 
What we save in buying is gain for our cus- 
tomers. Get our samples and prices and see 
for yourself that it is to your interest to 
favor us with your patronage. 

All seeds tested and guaranteed to be sat- 
isfactory in every way. Any time you buy 
Grass Seed from us and are not satisfied in. 
every way, you can send the seed back and 
'we will pay freight both ways and refund 
you the amount paid for it. 

Don't forget us as we are headquarters for 
Grass and Field Seeds of all kinds. 

A. A. BERRY SEED CO. 

CLARINDA, IOWA 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




002 766 932 3 



